Power transmitting device



May 3, 193s. K. WE'IHMANN 2,115,895

` POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE Filed May 14,' 1954 3 Sheecs-SheecI 1 ATTORNEYS.

May 3, 1938. K. wElHMANN 2,115,895

POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1'954 3 sheetsi-shet '2 A TTORNEY.

K. wElHMANN 2,115,895 POWER TRANSMITTING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill/IAF- INVENTOR.

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A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES POWER TnANsMrr'rlNG DEVICE Karl Weihmann, Detroit, Mich., assignor to-j Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application May 14, 1934, Serial No. 725,571

9 Claims.

In carrying out the foregoing objects of my` invention, I have provided a vnovel coupling structure principally fabricated from sheet metalstampings, thestamped parts being secured in the assembly against displacement by the circulating fluid medium. A relatively small number of metal stampin'gs are vemployed in myconstruction to form the vanes and the vane cover structures, these stampings being fashionedand assembled in a novel manner for attaining the objects set forth above.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for assembling the component parts of the fluid coupling; also improved means for assembling the fluid coupling with the driving means therefor.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novel uid coupling constructionwherein the manufacture and assembly of the structural parts thereof is greatly facilitated.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a fluid coupling having an impeller structure and a runner structure adapted for assembly as a unitary construction removably secured as a unit to the flywheel or other driving 40 means. In connection with thisphase of my invention, I have also kprovided in the aforesaid unitary assembly, a driven shaft on which the runner structure is mounted for driving connection and also a sealing means between the shaft and the casing of the runner and impeller structures. In the more limited aspects of my invention, I have also provided a starter ring gear adapted for connection with the driving flywheel preferably by the same means which secures the aforesaid unitary assembly to the flywheel.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed illustrative embodiments of the principles of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view axially through my improved coupling.

Fig. 2 isv an end elevational view of the fluid coupling illustrated in Fig. l, a portion of the driving casing and runner being broken away to 5 illustrate the typical uid passage forming members of the impeller. Y

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary sectional view along the line3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view illustratingthe assembly of the 10 impeller and runner unit with the driving flyf Wheel, the flywheel being shown in cross section and the runner and impeller unitary assembly being illustrated in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view illustrating 15 a modified form of my uid coupling.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational View of the fluid coupling illustrated in Fig. 5, the section being taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6'but 20 illustrating a further lmodified form of one of the fluid coupling rotors.

Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 and illustrating a further modified form of my uid coupling rotor.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view generally similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a further modified embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevational view of the impeller illustrated in the Fig. 9 embodiment, the 30 -section being taken along the line Ill- I0 of Flg.v11 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the fluid coupling illustrated in Fig. 9 but showing a modified form of Welding for the 35 structural parts thereof.

In the drawings and referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, reference character` A represents the impeller structure of thefluid coupling and B designates the runner structure, the coupling be- 40 ing shown for illustrative purposes transmitting the drive from an angine crankshaft I0 and flywheel II carried thereby to a driven shaft I2 which may be connectedto the driving wheels (not shown) of a motor vehicle in the well-known 45 manner. My coupling may, of course, be employed to provide a. driving connection between the various parts of different machines or de vices and is not limited in its useful application` to motor vehicle drives. 50

The impeller or rotor A has a stamped sheet metal annular vane carrying outer cover plate l I3 dished as illustrated in Fig. 1 and extending around the axis of the fluid coupling assemblyl provided by the aligned axes ofcrankshafty lll 55 is secured preferably by welding as indicated at II. The ring IB also has 'contact with the outer face of the cover plate I3 adjacent the flange I5 but the welding .is preferably limited to those portions of the ring I6 which engage the flange I5 to avoid any tendency of distorting the outer end portions of the cover plate I3. The flangel I5 and ring I6 are provided with a circumferentiallyextending series of holes therethrough, the holes in the flange and ring being aligned, alternate holes in the circumferentialseries being adapted to respectively receive the fastening means herein illustrated as the bolts I8 and I9 respectively.

'I'he flywheel II is provided with an outer circumferentially extending shoulder 2II for receiving the ring gear 2| which is provided with a circumferentially extending series of openings each of which is adapted on assembly, as will be presently more apparent, to receive the aforesaid bolts I 8, the latter having threads 22 for engagement with the openings in ring 2I. It will be apparent that the starter ring gear 2i is,

thereby separatelyformed from the flywheel I I, such construction permitting the flywheel to be formed of a stamping or a casting from relatively low cost material lending itself readily to the stamping or casting operation as the case may be, the starter ring 2| being formed of a harder, higher grade steel. The flywheel II has an outwardly extendingannular flange 23 having face contact with the starter gear ring 2| forwardly of the flange and being engaged by the aforesaid ring I 6 rearwardly of the flywheel flange. The flywheel I'I is preferably formed separately from the engine crankshaft I and may be connected thereto by suitable fasteners indicated at 24.

The rear casing member I4 has an outer annular flange 25 engageable with the flange I5,

the flange 25 being provided with a circumfer entially extending series of spaced holes or openings adapted to align with the holes of the flange I and ring I6 whereby alternate holes'are engaged'by the respective bolts I8 and I9.

The runner rotor B is provided with the stamped sheet metal -annular outer cover plate 26 dished oppositely to the cover plate I3. 'I'his cover plate 26 extends inwardly to provide the annular flange 21 connected by fasteners such as rivets 28' to and 'between the inner carrier ring 29 and the hub 3U splined on the forward end of the driven shaft I2 as indicated at 3|.

The forwardly opening end of the hub 30 adjacent the forward end of shaft I2 is closed by a closure disc 32 to prevent the escape of the fluid medium rearwardly of the driven shaft I2. .'Ihe inner carrier ring 28 is secured to the flange 21, if desired, in addition to the rivets 28 by welding as indicated at 33.

The driving casing member I4 is centered on the hub 38 and driven shaft I 2 by one or more ball bearing assemblies, one of which is indicated at 34 intermediate the hub 30 and casing I4 and, if desired, the casing' may be connected by fasteners 35 to a sleeve ,36 carrying a gear 31 for eswheel II. i

valso be apparent that the starter gear 2| will be tablishinga drive for an auxiliary mechanism (not shown) it being apparent that such drive takes place from crankshaft I0 through the fly-` wheel and casing member I4 independently of the rotation of driven shaft I2.

The outer cover plate I3 in my Fig. 1 embodiment has an integral central plate 38 return bent B, I-will describe that feature of my invention which relates to the assembly of the impeller and runn'er preferably together with the rear casing I4 as a unitary construction capable of assembly and disassembly Ywith respect to the flywheel II.A This unitary assembly or subassembly preferably also includes the driven shaft I2 and auxiliary .driving sleeve -36 where this sleeve is` desired. Fig. 4 best illustrates the assembly unit, this figure showing the parts of the subassembly connected together by the aforesaid bolts I9. In Fig. 4 the unitary assembly is shown ready for connection to the flywheel II and ring gear 2|, it being readily apparent that the alternating bolts I8 are adapted to engage the aligned openings of the flywheel and ring gear to securely connect the subassembly as anunit with the y- At the time of this connection it will secured in theassembly. By reason of my construction it is possible to completelyassemble the impeller and runner together with the associatedl inspection or repair, the parts of the fluid cou-- pling being removably4 held together asa unit by the bolts I9 when the bolts I8 are disconnected from the flywheel. The fluid medium may be oil, water. or other suitable fluid as may be desired, and the fluid medium may be introduced to the working chambers ofthe coupling through one or more openings 39 in the casing member I4 l asbest seen in Fig. 3, these openings beingthen closed .by screw plugs I4I'I.

The impeller A is provided with .the stamped. sheet metal inner cover plate 4I spaced Within lthe outer cover plate I3 and correspondingly dished, this inner cover plate extending ring-like about the axis of shaft I2 and being substantially semi-circular in cross section. The runner B is also provided with a similar inner cover plate 42 spaced within the outer cover plate 26, these inner cover plates ,4I and 42 together providing a vortex chamber 43 for the fluid which circulates between the impeller and runner around the vortex chamber as will be presently more apparent.

The rotors A and B may have vane fluid passage formlng structures of generally similar construction, the typical structure being best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 in connection with the lmpeller A. Intermediate the inner and outer cover members I3 and 4| respectively are located a seT 75 In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the members C are preferably stamped flat so that their inner and outer peripheral edges are respectively conformed to the inner and outer cover plates 4| and I3 for edge contact therewith, these edges being secured to the associated cover plates by welding. 4The welding may be readily accomplished for each rotor in suitable fixtures (not shown), it being apparent that all of the vane forming members C for each rotor may be welded' simultaneously either continuously along the contacting edges of the vanes and cover plates or else at spaced intervals as indicated by the welds 46.

For convenience of reference and for comparison with other embodiments of my invention hereinafter more fully described, the radially extending vane portions of the members C may be designated by reference character 41. The circumferential spacing of the vane forming members C provide circumferentially spaced; fluid conducting passages D, these passages in the impeller A and runner B being open at their inner ends with the chamber 44 and at their outer ends with the chamber 45.

After the impeller rA and runner B are formed with their respectively associated inner and outer cover plates and the vane forming members, the rotors are assembled together with the parts associated therewith to provide the aforesaid unitary assembly ready for attachment to the driving flywheel II. When assembled with the flywheel, the impeller A will rotate with the flywheel and driving shaft I0 to cause the fluid to circulate under the action of centrifugal force from space 44.0utwardly through the impeller vane passages for discharge at the space where the fluid enters the runner vane passages for discharge at the space 44. The runner is thus driven from the impeller and the drive transmitted from the runner to the driven shaft I2, the slip between the rotors rapidly diminishing as the speed of the impeller increases according to the Well-known properties of fluid couplings. It will be observed that the fluid space between the casing member I4 and the forward enclosure defined by the outer cover plate I3 and the central plate 38v is substantially free from projections, screws, bolts, etc., which produce noises and friction losses as the fluid is rapidly circulated within the cou-l pling. Furthermore, it will be noted that the bounding faces of the fluid passages D will likewise provide for smooth flow of the fluid with resulting relatively high efficiency of power transmission, such smooth flow being'of particular benefit in providing a high degree of slip between the rotors at lowwspeed where slippage is desirable.

Referring now to the slightly modified construction of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, it will be noted that I have designated several of the parts therein by the same reference characters referred to hereinbefore inasmuch as such parts are of generally similar construction and of similar purpose and function. In Fig. 5

.the impeller A is provided with the outer cover I 2,115,895 .le of circumferentially. spaced stamped sheet plate I3a generally similar to the aforesaid cover plate I3, the cover plate I38L having the central integral stamped portion 38a in this instance lying substantially in a plane transverse to the axis of the driven shaft I2 for further minimizing friction losses ofthe fluid circulated in the fluid coupling. The cover plate I3n has welded thereto the outer carrier ring llia engaged by the flange 23a of the flywheel IIa, the starter ring gear 2Ia being associated with the flywheel as before. vIn

Fig. 5 I have illustrated one of the through bolts.

I8a adapted to connect the corresponding subassembly with the flywheel I IB. The outer casing member I4a is connected as before with the aux iliary driving sleeve 36.

The impeller A' and runner B may be provided with the aforesaid innercover plates 4I and 42 respectively, the runner B having .the

outer cover plate 26B illustrated in Fig. ,5 as havt ing the welded` inner carrier ring 29a secured by fasteners 23a to the hub 3|)a for driving connection with the driven shaft I2a as will be readily understood.

In Fig. 6 the typical impeller A' is illustrated, the fluid conducting passagesD being formed by the same welded vane forming members C as were illustrated and described in connection with. the Fig. 1 embodiment of my invention.

In Fig. '7 I have illustrated a modified form of vane forming members C' for the typical rotor A2, the rotor being otherwise ysimilar in construction with the rotor illustrated inl Fig. l as indicated by the use of similar reference numerals. g

The members LC? have radially extending arcuate vane portions 4ln weldedalong their outer arcuate ends to the outer cover plate I3 of the impeller A2, each vane portion 4'Ia being formed with an inner circumferentially bent web or flange 48 shaped to conform to and engage the inner surface of the inner cover plate 4I and being welded thereto as indicated at 46a. These webs 48 serve to further strengthen the vane forming members C' and also the structural assembly of the impeller rotor A2.

illustrated in Fig. '7, the members C2 having radially extending arcuate vane portions 41h. It will thus be apparent that the members C2 each provide an arcuate vane forming member channel-shaped iny cross section for. added strength.

rigidity of the structure, and to further facilitate welding incertain instances. v

Referring now to the further modified embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 9 to l1, a portion of the engine E is illustrated therein associated with the rearwardly extending crankshaft I0 as aforesaid, the crankshaft being shown in association with parts identical with the fluid coupling illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, namely the starter ring ZIB, flywheel flange 23a, carrier ring Ilia, casing member I4a and parts associated therewith, and the through bolts I8a. At the lower half of the viewseen in Fig. 9, I have illustrated one of the subassembly bolts I9i corresponding in function to the bolt I9 o f Fig. 1 aforesaid for permitting the building up of the fluid coupling proper for attachment as a unit to the flywheel il, Y

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a sealing means 5I which may be used throughout the several, em-

bodime'nts of my invention, this' sealing means cooperating between the driving sleeve 36 and the hub 3i)a to prevent escape of the fluid medium from the working space of the fluid coupling.

In Fig. Y9 the central plate 38h is provided with an 'outer peripheral flange 52 for attachment to the outer cover plate |31 by welding as indicated at 53. The driving casing member I4a is centered and supported on the hub 3i)B by the bearin assembly 34E.

In Figs. 9 to 11 the impeller A4 and the associated runner B4 may be similarly constructed with respect to their fluid passage forming means, Fig.

10 best illustrating the typical construction for4 the impeller rotor'Af. The vane 'forming members C3 are provided with arcuate substantially radially extending vane portions 41" suitably conillustration to form the inner cover structure to' provide the vortex chamber similar to the vortex chamber 43 of Fig. 1. To this end the members C3 have their inner portions'angled to'provide circumferentially extending dished portions 5l provided with inwardly 'olfset terminal ends 55 fitting within thev dished portion of the next adjacent v member telescopic-like as clearly indicated in Fig.

10. In this manner I have provided passage forming members C3 preferably of stamped sheet metal, these members forming the vane portionsl circumferentially bounding the fluid passages D4 vand also forming the inner cover ring as a continub'us structure of interconnected or telescoped component dished rportions of the members C3.

On assembly of the rotor A4, the members C:i have their telescoped inner cover ring portions welded either intermittently as indicated at 46c' in Figs. 9 and 10 or continuously as indicated at 46d in Fig. l1 by the well-known continuous flash method of welding. The telescoping of the dished portions as indicated at 55 is preferred to facilitate the welding bond and also to further strengthen the structure although, if desired, the welde'd parts may be brought into' abutting relationship without the overlapping or telescoping arrangement.

Various modifications and changes will be readily apparent from the teachings of my invention, as set forthvin the appended claims, and it is not my intention to limit my invention to the particular details of construction and operation shown and described herein for illustrative purposes.

WhatIclaimisr y l. In a fluid coupling rotor, an annular` dished cover structure, a plurality of fluid passage forming members within said cover structure vand secured thereto, said members having circumferentially spaced substantially radially extending vane portions, said members having circumferentially extending' portions overlapping each other. .2. In a fluid coupling rotor, an annular dished cover structure, a plurality of fluid passage forming members withinsaid cover structure and secured thereto, said members having circumferentially spaced substantially radially extending vane portions, said members having crcumferentially extending por'tionsf forming a second annular cover structure.

3. Inaviluid coupling rotor, an annular dishedv cover structure, a plurality of fluid passage forming members within said cover structure and se-- cured thereto, said members having circumferentially spaced substantially radially extending vane portions, said members having circumferentially extending dished' portions, the dished portions of adjacent members being relatively telescoped. y 4. In a fluid coupling rotor, an annular dished cover structure, a plurality of fluid passage forming members within said cover structure and secured thereto, said members having circumferentially spaced substantially radiallyextending vane portions, said members having circumfern, entially extending vdished portions, the dished portions of adjacent members being relatively telescoped, said dished portions of said members forming a second annular cover structure coaxial with the first said cover structure.

' cover structure, a plurality of fluid passage forming members within said cover structure and secured thereto, said members having circumferentially spaced substantially radially extending vane portions,` said members having circumferentially extending dished portions provided with offset ends, the offset end, of each of said members fitting within the dished portion of the next adjacent member.

6. In a fluid coupling rotor, an annular dished cover structure, a plurality of fluid passage forming membersfwithin said cover structure, said members having circumferentially spaced substantially radially extending vane portions welded at one end thereof substantially perpendicularly to said cover structure, said members having their other ends angled to provide circumferentially extending dished portions forming a second annular cover structure co-axial -wlth the rst said cover structure. y

'7. In a fluid coupling rotor, an outer annular dished cover structure, a plurality of fluid passage forming members within said outer cover structure, said members having arcuate substantially radially extending and circumferentially spaced vane portions secured at their outer ends to said outer cover structure, said members having their -\inner ends angled to provide circumferentially extending dished portions forming an inner cover structure.. I

8. In a Ziluid coupling rotor, inner and outer annular dished cover structures connected by circumferentially spaced fluid passage forming vanes, said Avanes having circumferentially extending portions forming one.- of said cover structures.

9. In a fluid coupling rotor, innerand outer annular dished cover structures connected by circumferentially spaced fluid passage forming vanes, said vanes having circumferentially extending portions successively overlapping each other to'form oneof-said cover structures. 

